Entering...theJade

Greetings everyone. I call myself theJade, my friends don't, but that is what I will refer to myself here. I have decided to join Arc on his accidental experiment not simply for the sake of saving money, but perhaps to test my devotion and self control. Perhaps. And thus, I have set up my own conditions in which I will attempt to abide by for the duration of 2007.

I don't really know if I agree with Arc on the wording of the question "What concerns us as a society?" but I'll tell you what I THINK are inessentials that I think I value more than I should.

1. Luxury foods of which include "Fine" dining, dining out, and junk food
   
2. Photography needs
   
3. Extraneous clothing
   
4. Movies, music, and other audio/video entertainment, Video games, etc.
   
5. Climbing needs, etc.
   
6. Books, books, and more books.
   
7. Car needs.
   
8. Coffee, pearl tea, and other specialty drinks.
   
9. Travel
   

Well, that's the list for now, it might grow once sometime comes up, who knows. Lets go through them one by one. Just as a side note, like Arc, gifts are an exception. And certain group activities will be exceptions...CERTAIN. As will hopefully be chosen through my good judgement.

1. I live for food, for me, this is inevitable, but too much "fine" dining, or even dining out is really starting to spoil me. I will limit myself to eating out at most once a week for dinner and once a week for lunch with people outside of family as those are obligatory. No purchasing my own junk food...with the exception of chocolates in which I choose not to have self control over (actually I really don't eat that much chocolate on a daily basis so even if I splurge on chocolate, it will last me a good couple of months).
   
2. I will purchase no more than 1 lens in the following year and perhaps a protective bag for my camera, but nothing more, unless it is something that prevents me from continuing this hobby whatsoever, like my CF card snaps in half or something.
   
3. Extraneous Clothing. Things I probably don't need for the next year. More Beanies/hats, more shoes, more sweaters, more jackets. More t-shirts. Heck, I probably don't need more clothse for a while, but I do need to donate some, which I will do. So unless absolutely necessary, no purchasing of clothing.
   
4. Cannot spend more than $100 on audio/video entertainment in a given 3 month period.
   
5. I cannot purchase any more than my monthly CB membership, one new pair of shoes, chalk when necessary, and no more than one visit to an outside gym.
   
6. No more than $25 per month on books. Yes they can carry over, and yes I can take loans..but that means in the end, no more than $300 throughout the year spent on books.
   
7. Unnecessary driving trips of car limited to once a month, meaning highway 9. Tracking events limited to twice this year if any. No unnecessary aggression with the car except for maybe on my driving trips. I know what I mean, don't worry.
   
8. At most one outside ordered drink a day, even if it is to accompany a meal, unless included in the meal. Coffee/tea limited to once a day. Specially prepared drinks, pearl tea, fraps, lattes, jamba juice, etc, limited to once a week (defined as drinks $2+). (refers only to drinks purchased for myself)
   
9. I'll need to think about this one.
   

And that's all folks.